ERIC FRANCIS, QMI Agency

Brian Burke insists there’s no need to panic despite the fact Dion Phaneuf had a negative response to a large dose of antibiotics administered following surgery on the deep cut on his left leg.

The Toronto Maple Leafs GM confirmed the reaction Saturday, but said it is common and it will not set his captain’s recovery back in any way.

“The reaction stopped after a few days, days in which therapy was impossible anyway,” Burke told the Calgary Sun.

“You can’t start working the joint right away due to swelling and pain. No infection. No setback. No time lost.”

Phaneuf is still targeting a mid-December return, which may coincide with his club’s Dec. 16 game in Calgary, marking the first Leaf/Flames meeting since the defenceman was acquired from the Flames.

Cuban shooting for Stars

Mark Cuban is once again showing interest in buying the Dallas Stars.

A source close to the team confirmed Saturday the Dallas Maverick’s owner is once again kicking tires on a team he’s watched decline in value throughout a process that started when owner Tom Hicks defaulted on bank loans earlier in the year.

The team has been in limbo ever since as GM Joe Nieuwendyk can’t move forward on any major contract negotiations involving players like Brad Richards, an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Meanwhile, attendance is falling.

Cuban’s NBA team is already a building tenant and his high-profile involvement as either a front man or an investor could be good news for the Stars who expected the transfer of ownership to be wrapped up before the season started.

No revolt in Pittsburgh

Following a week in which Sidney Crosby intimated the coach should allow Marc-Andre Fleury to play through his slump, another Penguins veteran scoffed at rumblings the players hate coach Dan Bylsma.

Calling him personable, up front, always positive and “the best coach I’ve ever had,” the player said he’d be shocked if his teammates felt much differently.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said of the suggestion Bylsma is losing his dressing room.

“We’re just trying to figure things out and be more consistent.”

Hodgson callup on hold

Unlike the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in full panic mode by bringing up Nazem Kadri, the Vancouver Canucks are in no hurry to bring up their top prospect, Cody Hodgson. This despite the fact the 20-year-old World Junior star is lighting it up in Manitoba with 10 points in his last nine games, including a team-leading seven goals.

Canucks GM Mike Gillis said he may call him up at some point — he has the cap room — but is in no hurry as he also has Jeff Tambellini, Joel Perrault and Mario Bliznak (who is currently with the big team) he can summon while the oft-injured Hodgson gets valuable playing time.

Hodgson, the 10th pick overall in 2008, played his 14th game of the year Friday, which is one more than he played all last season due to a back injury he says is a distant memory, thanks in large part of his off-season conditioning regimen with Gary Roberts.

Omark stuck in minors

Oilers prospect Linus Omark — aka the YouTube Guy (just google him and you’ll see his all-world lob-shot goal) — raised eyebrows recently when he scored five goals, and then added a shootout goal, in an AHL game with the Oilers affiliate in Oklahoma City.

The former KHLer, who was furious when he was sent down after the Oilers’ training camp, is showing signs of being a scoring stud. The 23-year-old Swede is sitting tied for third in AHL scoring with 10 goals and 19 points in 17 games — this after going scoreless his first three. Steve Tambellini confirmed the fourth-rounder will get his NHL shot this year, but there simply isn’t room for a top-six winger like him right now.